US slaps sanctions over charged pastor; Turkey vows reprisal

What is this really about? Rescuing an American citizen? Not really. It is, once again, about attacking a NATO ally. And who does that benefit? Russia, of course:

The United States slapped sanctions on two Turkish officials on Wednesday over a detained American pastor who is being tried on espionage and terror-related charges. Turkey vowed retaliation “without delay,” warning it would harm relations between the two allies.

President Donald Trump followed through on his warning last week to impose sanctions against Turkey, a key NATO ally, for its treatment of Andrew Craig Brunson in a case that has strained U.S.-Turkish relations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said his government wouldn’t back down and was willing to “go its own way” if the U.S. did act.